Chrysanthemum plant named Parliament

ABSTRACT

A new variety of chrysanthemum plant of the spray type characterized by its medium sized blooms of a daisy form which have three to four rows of purple-pink ray florets, by its uniform year around 8 to 9 week response, and by its production of 8 to 13 fully developed flowers on each terminal stem.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

My new variety of chrysanthemum was discovered by me atWestfield-Woking, Surrey, England, in 1972 as a seedling of unidentifiedparentage growing among stock greenhouse plants maintained by me forbreeding purposes. The dark pink coloring of its daisy formed flowersand the many flowers borne on a strong, tall terminal stem caused me toselect this plant for trial and my propagation of this plant atWestfield-Woking by means of cuttings from the original plant andsubsequently by vegetative cuttings from the resulting clonedemonstrated to me that the novel characteristics of the new plantappeared to be firmly fixed and to hold true from generation togeneration.

As a result of my work with this new plant, its propagation byvegetative cuttings is now being done at West Chicago, Ill., and atCortez, Fla., and my original observations of the distinctivecharacteristics of the plant have been found to be retained fromgeneration to generation at each location.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new chrysanthemum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, the first of which is a full color photographic print showinga flowering stem of the new plant with buds, foliage and fully openedflowers, the view having been selected to show the manner in which theflowers are carried on the main stem. The colors shown are as nearlytrue as it is reasonably possible to obtain by conventional photographicprocedures, the plant shown being one flowered at West Chicago, Ill., inSept. 1976. The second sheet of drawings is a mechanical reproduction ofa photocopy of typical leaves of the new plant taken from a singleflowering stem to show the leaves at several stages of maturity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new variety ofchrysanthemum with color designations according to the R.H.S. ColourChart published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage: Unidentified, this plant having been found among randompollinated greenhouse plants.

Classification:

Botanic.--Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Commercial.--Greenhouse cut flower.

Form: Herbaceous bush.

Height: 2 to 31/2 feet.

Growth: Terminal and upright, with low to moderate vigor and sturdystems of good strength.

Branching: Normal, under natural conditions.

Foliage: Abundant, averaging six to eight leaves per 6 inches of stem.

Leaf size.--For average mature leaf -- length 3 to 43/4 inches; width 2to 35/8 inches.

Leaf shape.--Lanceolate, lobed and deeply serrated.

Color.--Upper side -- very dark Green, 147A. Under side -- dark Green,147B.

surface texture.--Canescent.

Venation.--Pinnate.

THE BUD

Form: Globular.

Size:

Diameter.--5/16 to 3/8 inch.

Depth.--1/4 inch.

Opening: Slowly. Flowering occurs several weeks after Phyllaries beginto divide.

Color:

When phyllaries first divide.--Yellow Green, 144A.

when florets begin to unfurl.--Red-Purple, 64A.

Phyllaries: The outside of the receptacle bears many involucral bracts.

Form.--Spear-shaped and upstanding.

Surface texture.--Pubescent.

Color.--Inside and outside -- very dark Green, 147A.

Peduncle: Erect and sturdy.

Length.--1/4 to 5/8 inch.

Surface texture.--Pubescent.

Color.--Dark Green, 147B.

THE FLOWER

Flowering season: This plant can be flowered the year around withphotoperiod control.

Natural.--About October 25 to November 2.

Recommended.--Year around.

Response: 8 to 9 weeks.

Blooms:

Flower type.--Composite, single and of daisy form, each comprising ahead of many florets borne on a receptacle.

Borne.--As a spray of relatively long racemose stems each terminated bya single composite capitulum.

Size.--Medium. Diameter: 21/2 to 3 inches. Depth: 1/2 to 3/4 inch.

Shape.--Flat when bloom first opens, changing later by a slightreflexing of the ray florets.

Florets.--40 to 52 in number, arranged in three to four rows. Form:Linear with obtuse apex. Length: 11/4 to 11/2 inches. Width: 3/8 inch.Texture: Of medium firmness. Appearance: Very slight shine.

Color:

    ______________________________________                                                                                June                                  Outer Florets                                                                          Jan.   Feb.   March  Apr. May  to Oct.                                                                             Dec.                            Upper Side                                                                             66C    70B    71C & D                                                                              70A  70A  74C   74C                                                    68A & B                                                Reverse  68D    69A    68C & D                                                                              70C  74D  73D   78D                             ______________________________________                                    

Color change: Moderate fade under high light conditions.

Persistence: Florets hang on and dry.

Fragrance: Typical chrysanthemum.

Lasting quality:

On plant.--2 to 31/2 weeks.

As cut flower.--6 to 14 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: five in syngenesious arrangement.

Filaments.--1/16 to 1/8 inch long. Color: Light Yellow

Pollen.--Color -- Yellow.

Pistils: Number -- one to each ray and disc floret.

Styles.--1/8 to 3/16 inch long.

Stigmas.--Color -- Yellow.

Ovaries: Inferior and bicarpellate.

My new cultivar of spray chrysanthemum is distinguished by its daisyflower form with three or four rows of purple-pink ray florets whichprovide medium sized, 21/2 to 3 inch diameter blossoms which have lightto moderate pollen production. This plant has a uniform year around 8 to9 week flowering response, producing 8 to 13 fully developed blooms oneach terminal stem, with good stem strength and dense, glossy, darkgreen foliage.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct chrysanthemum cultivar substantially asherein shown and described, distinguished by its medium sized daisy-formblooms which have three to four rows of purple-pink ray florets, by itsuniform 8 to 9 week year around flowering response, and by its abilityto produce as many as 13 fully developed flowers on each terminal stem.